22 Mar 2018

A total of 83 mobile tour operator licenses have been issued to Batswana operators in Chobe, Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism minister, Mr Tshekedi Khama has said.

He told Parliament on March 21 that all licensed Batswana operators based in Kasane were permitted to conduct tourism activities in the Chobe National Park.

Mr Khama however said there were some conditions to traverse Chobe National Park to Moremi Game Reserve for newly licensed operators.

He said his ministry was highly concerned by the congestion of vehicles on the Mababe-Savuti route linking Chobe National Park to Moremi Game Reserve, hence the need to restrict newly licensed operators on the route and minimise the experienced environmental impacts.

Mr Khama explained that the ministry, in conjunction with the operators, had since opened a new route to address the situation and the situation was monitored for the benefit of the operators and environment.

Minister Khama was responding to a question by MP for Chobe, Mr Machana Shamukuni, who had asked the minister to state the total number of mobile tour operator licences issued to Batswana operators in Chobe and if there were Batswana operators based in Kasane, who were barred from doing activities in Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve and the reason for such. ENDS